Hit the Wall

It happens to me from time to time - I hit a creative wall. Nothing I shoot pleases me. Nothing I shoot makes me think I'm getting any better, or worse, that I was ever any good.

I see the incredible work of my friends, and just get frustrated with my own efforts.

Of course, in my defense, I have been very busy with the never-ending basement remodel, family travel (and travail), and a run of last minute cancels and no-shows. In the past 3 months I've only had 2 shoots (not counting monthly roller derby). I have a shoot scheduled for Sunday - finally someone to work on my My Body - My Canvas, and try some creative things with.

I hope I can break through or get over this wall quickly.

A few small items - Vacation post #2

Have you tried a Bushwacker? Someone told me they're sometimes called Mudslides, but I prefer the VI term. A Bushwacker is really simple to make. Try one or two, just don't plan on driving anywhere or operating heavy machinery.

Equal parts each of:

• Bailey's
• Franglica
• Coconut Rum
• Vodka
• Amaretto

Add some ice, and blend.

Our vacation villa, Serendip, is in the 2008 Frommer's guide to the Virgin Islands as a recommended place to stay, so we feel even better about our choice.

Counting Down - Official Vacation Post #1

Talisa (my wife) and I are taking our first vacation together - just the 2 of us - in 12 years. We'll be heading for a week in sleepy, lazy, beautiful St. John, USVI.

I can't begin to express how excited I am about this trip. When we first visited the US Virgin Islands in April of 2007 (a half day stop over on our Carnival Cruise) we were immediately infatuated with the place and knew we'd have to come back for a real vacation - not just a half day visit.

So now begins the countdown...

We did a lot of reasearch about where to stay, what to do, what to see, and made our reservations.

We'll be staying at a quaint and affordable villa called Serendip. It is affordable because summer vacation time here in the 48 contiguous states is off-season in the Virgin Islands. The owner, Ted Johnson, has been very kind and helpful, and has told me there is a very good BBQ restaurant on the island. That is a challenge. I'm Southern born and raised, and I LOVE BBQ. I look forward to this challenge. Ted has even arranged for our Jeep rental when we get to Saint John.

My work, home, and laptop computers have Virgin Islands wallpaper, and my digital photo frame on my desk at work scrolls through about 20 pictures of St. John and surroundings (thanks Flickr!

Since this is supposed to be a photography blog - I have little experience with travel, landscape, and nature photography. I am actually nervous about my ability to capture the spirit and soul of our vacation and the island. If a picture is worth a thousand words, I want to make sure they're really nice words.

I'll be working on my low-light, wide angle, funky lenses, and composition over the next 6 weeks to make sure my photographic skills are up to the challenge.

So now I wait...

Vacation Time Coming

My wife and I will have been married (counting... umm....) 12 years this labor day. Other than our honeymoon, we have never been on a vacation for more than 3 days - just the 2 of us. We've been on family vacations every year - spending a week or so in a house at the beach with my son, her parents, brother, our nephews, and a few others from time to time (my mother one year, my brother one year, and my brother-in-law's now ex wife and now ex girlfriend).

Last year, my wife, son, and I went on a week long cruise and spent a day in St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands. We were impressed and amazed. It was the kind of place that, if you let it, gets into your blood stream and calls back you after you've gone. We were only there for a half a day and couldn't wait to get back. (An example of the magic of St. Thomas - our tour guide related how 25 years ago he came down to St. Thomas on a 2 year teaching contract.)

Since then, my wife and I have dreamed of going back to the Virgin Islands, but to vacation there, not to stop over there as a cruise does. With some creative financing, juggling of funds, and taking advantage of the fact that "summer vacation time" for us in the upper 48 is actually "off season" in the Virgin Islands, we have managed to plan our first in 12 years vacation together. But we won't be going to the "crowded" St. Thomas (population 20,000), but to the neighboring island of St. John (population 4000).

The flight is booked (Atlanta to San Juan to St. Thomas). The lodgings are booked (studio condo overlooking Cruz Bay - high in the hills of St. John). We've researched where to go and what to do. We're now VERY ready to get away from everything - and in St. John we're pretty much away from everything - for a whole week. Sun, fun, and rum - that' all I'm looking for. Well, and of course, LOTS of pictures.

My next goal in trip-prep is to find out where to shoot, what to shoot, and when to shoot it. Of course, in a place like St. John, I will probably be surrounded by things to shoot, so I have that going for me - which is nice.